2025 Audi Q5 Sportback debuts as sleeker, more stylish Q5 alternative

It has now become good practice at Audi, BMW, and Mercedes: almost every SUV is also given a sleeker body with a lower roofline. It seems to be paying off. After the regular Q5 SUV, Audi is now also launching the Q5 Sportback. 

According to Audi, the new Q5 Sportback is primarily aimed at customers in Europe, while the Q5 SUV is expected to be more popular in North America. Or, as it says in the finest marketing jargon: "With its progressive and dynamic silhouette, this derivative appeals to design-savvy customers who nevertheless do not want to do without the advantages of an SUV."

Gallery: 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback

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Source: Audi

Exterior

Let's turn to the facts: the length, width, and wheelbase are identical to the Q5 SUV. The Sportback is only a few millimetres lower in height. The second generation of the Q5 Sportback offers up to 515 litres of boot space, the SQ5 Sportback up to 470 litres. With the seat bench folded down, the storage space increases to up to 1,415 litres or 1,388 litres, respectively. The Q5 Sportback has a towing capacity of up to 2,400 kilograms.

Compared to its predecessor, the design of the new Audi Q5 Sportback is much tighter. The wide Singleframe sits high and is flanked by vertical functional air curtains. A large air intake with sensors is located in the area below the Singleframe.

The horizontal shoulder line, as a connecting element between the front and rear lights, rises again slightly above the rear lights on the Sportback in order to visually absorb the roof arch with the flat rear window.

The rear of the Q5 Sportback is visually drawn as far back as possible in order to achieve a roofline that slopes downwards from the B-pillar. Optional roof rails add utility to the dynamic lines of the roof. The diffuser is integrated into the raised bumpers as an island. The (real) tailpipes are located below it, while the S model has twin round tailpipes in a new, sharpened design.

The Q5 Sportback is available in the Advanced and S-line equipment variants. The SQ5 Sportback also has its own exterior. The exterior of the Advanced equipment line offers "dynamic design elements with stylish accents" compared to the basic equipment.

The more practical alternative:

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The radiator grille and the inserts of the front air intakes are finished in "Scandium grey", while the contrasting paint finish is called "Tambora grey". The diffuser is grained matt black and the inserts at the rear are finished in "selenite silver". There are also 18-inch light-alloy wheels in a five-spoke design.

Gallery: 2025 Audi SQ5 Sportback

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Source: Audi

In the exterior S line and the S model, the front air intakes are larger and the diffuser at the rear is significantly sportier. In addition, the Singleframe is surrounded by a frame in a matt anthracite chrome look (exterior S-line) and matt silver chrome look (S model) and large side aero tubes in L-wing shape emphasise the sporty look.

In the S model, the Singleframe is further emphasised by vertically inserted L-wing ornaments in matt silver chrome look. The window trim strips are finished in an aluminium look as standard. At the rear, the second-generation digital OLED tail lights and the new projection light in the spoiler above the rear window ensure increased safety. It projects a graphic into the upper rear window area and thus enlarges the brake light area.

Interior

There are no surprises inside the new Q5 Sportback: the Audi MMI panoramic display and the front passenger display are already familiar from the Q5 SUV. The so-called "soft wrap" extends from the doors through the entire cockpit to the centre console. The materials used there, such as the upholstery fabric Kaskade or the microfibre material Dinamica, are largely made from recycled polyester. A test will have to clarify whether they are really high-quality or rather cheap. The same applies to the headroom in the rear.

Engines

Like its brother and the new A5, the new Audi Q5 Sportback is based on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), a platform architecture for conventionally powered vehicles with longitudinally mounted combustion engines and will be equipped with highly efficient MHEV plus technology from market launch.

The new MHEV plus system with 48-volt on-board electrical system supports the combustion engine, and purely electric manoeuvring and parking are also possible to a limited extent. The new drive train generator (TSG) generates an additional drive torque of up to 230 Newton metres and up to 24 bhp of power. The 48-volt system also enables the use of an electrically driven air conditioning compressor.

This offers the great advantage that the air conditioning system continues to operate at full power even when the engine is switched off - for example when sailing or at a red light. The lithium-ion battery in vehicles with MHEV plus is based on lithium iron phosphate chemistry and has a storage capacity of 1.7 kWh. The belt starter generator (RSG) performs the essential tasks of starting the engine and supplying electrical energy to the battery.

The RSG enables electric driving, relieves the combustion engine, and helps reduce fuel consumption. When decelerating, the RSG feeds up to 25 kW of energy back into the battery (recuperation). The Premium Platform Combustion allows gradual electrification in the form of mild hybrids. Plug-in hybrids with a large battery and external charging option will also follow later in the life cycle of the new Audi Q5 Sportback.

In Europe, the Audi Q5 Sportback will be launched with three engine versions, with further drive variants to follow. At market launch, all variants will be equipped with MHEV plus technology, which can provide up to 24 bhp of additional power for short periods. All models also utilise the 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. The entry-level engine is the 2.0 TFSI with 204 bhp, 340 Nm of maximum torque and is equipped with front-wheel drive. The Quattro all-wheel drive is available as an option.

The Audi Q5 Sportback is available with the 2.0 TDI as the EA288 evo generation. It delivers 204 bhp and 400 Nm of torque and is only available with all-wheel drive. Audi will be offering the SQ5 Sportback as the top model in the series at the market launch in the second quarter of 2025. The V6 TFSI with a displacement of 3.0 litres has an output of 367 bhp and a maximum torque of 550 Nm.

Prices

The new Q5 Sportback and SQ5 Sportback will be available to order in Germany starting in December 2024. Prices start from €54,800 (£45,700) and €85,400 (£71,300) for the S model. UK prices and launch date are not available yet.